Oral Biopsies

Oral biopsies are usually recommended if your dentist has noticed a lesion or another irregularity in your mouth. They are a vital tool to diagnose oral diseases and protect your oral health.

This specialist service at The Bristol Dental Practice prevents the need for you having to be referred to a hospital. Avoiding lengthy waiting times and importantly, providing convenience, peace of mind and a faster diagnosis.

If you are looking to be referred by your dentist or are on a waiting list for an oral biopsy at a local hospital, our specialist team are able to provide this procedure quickly and safely, with results in 1-2 weeks of the biopsy procedure.

Biopsies are recommended if your dentist has noticed a lesion or another irregularity in your mouth. These may include:

• Bleeding lesions or sores
• Gum ulcers
• Discoloration or abnormal swelling of the gums
• Lumps inside the mouth
• Chronic sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing

Most oral lesions within the mouth can be biopsied and lesions such as polyps, mucocoeles, lichen planus and epulii are among the most common. Biopsy tissue samples are examined and tested by a pathologist for signs of cancer or other health issues.  The results are usually available in 1-2 weeks.

Your oral surgeon will assess and select the most suitable biopsy approach for detecting and diagnosing the anomaly. Typically, these biopsies are relatively small in size. Some target soft tissues, like the gums, lip or tongue, while others focus on hard tissues, such as the jawbone. While many biopsies can be conducted under a local anaesthetic, more extensive procedures may necessitate sedation for patient comfort and safety.

Patients are seen for an initial consultation to examine the area and discuss the procedure.  In many instances we can perform the biopsy there and then.

Local anaesthetic is used to numb the area and either the entire lesion or a small piece of the lesion is removed and the area is closed with self-dissolving stitches. The entire biopsy process takes around 15-20 minutes.

The tissue sample is sent to a local hospital based pathology department to be examined, tested and diagnosed. The pathologist will then generate a report which is posted or emailed to both the practice and the patient.

In most instances the consultation and treatment can be done on the same day and a typical biopsy procedure will take approximately 15-20 minutes. Turn-around times for receiving the report back from the pathologist in the histology department are usually 1-2 weeks.

Your oral surgeon will invite you to the practice or schedule a phone call to discuss the findings. The results can tell us a great deal about your oral health. They can tell if the abnormal tissue is cancerous, a benign lesion, or some other type of infection, which informs the type of treatment plan developed.

Your recovery experience after a biopsy largely depends on the area of the biopsy and the type of tissue sample removed. In certain instances, you can typically return to your regular diet and activities once the effects of the local anaesthetic have worn off. However, if stitches were necessary, your oral surgeon might advise you to refrain from direct brushing on the treated area for approximately one week. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that the vast majority of biopsies are minimally invasive procedures and generally do not entail an extended recovery period.

At The Bristol Dental Practice, we understand that many people are anxious about visiting the dentist. However, we have put a host of measures in place to ensure that your experience is as pleasant and painless as possible. All of our staff receive special training on how to support nervous patients, and we offer additional solutions such as conscious sedation.

As a trusted and experienced practice, The Bristol Dental Practice can accept self-referrals and referrals from other clinics, allowing patients to benefit from the wide range of treatments we offer here while remaining registered with their current dental practice.

If you require an oral biopsy, do not hesitate to contact our skilled dental team at The Bristol Dental Practice. We will provide you with the expert care you need and ensure a comfortable surgical procedure.